South Shore Farmer Brew Fest draws 1,000-plus

Wednesday

The folks at Black Hat Brew Works don't look at nearby Shovel Town Brewery or Bog Iron Brewing and see competition.

They see kindred spirits — another group of people looking to advance craft beer.

"We honestly don't consider them competition," Scott Galpin, co-owner at Bridgewater's Black Hat Brew Works. "They're friends, they're colleagues. We like to recommend them to people who come to us."

It's one of the nice things about working the craft-brewing industry, Galpin said — people look out for you. And when they all come together, big things can happen.

The third year of the South Shore Farmer Brew Fest, hosted once again by Black Hat Brew Works, welcomed about 1,000 people (maybe a shade more) to Scotland Boulevard for a craft-brew extravaganza. There were 22 local brewers (among them Easton's Shovel Town, Crue Brew in Raynham, Old Colony Brewing in Whitman and 10th District Brewing in Abington) and about 10 food trucks, plus live music, cornhole and tables of local vendors.

Proceeds from the annual festival benefit The Bridge Center, a Bridgewater organization that offers programs for people with disabilities, as well as charities chosen by Bridgewater police and fire.